These Boots Are Made For Walking ~ Remembering Alonzo Vannatter

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2025: Week 1 (IN THE BEGINNING)

Whenever I hear the phrase IN THE BEGINNING I immediately think of Genesis from the bible. 

I didn't grow up with church as part of my family's life, but Chris did.

He is a Methodist Lay Pastor's grandson via his mom, and the great grandson of a Brethren In Christ Minister via his dad.

Chris can quote chapter and some exact verses from the bible - it makes for an awkward party trick.

He remembers going to both churches as a child.

The fire & brimstone going to hell sermons of his childhood terrified him.

It was those guilt panels installed in his childhood that randomly showed up in strange ways as we were raising our children.

I was never burdened by morality guilt having only attended church as a guest a few times in my childhood. 

When strange rules were put into effect I am fairly confident that our children thought it was me. 

With my prior work in social services I was not the one who had concerns about any behaviour as long as safety was practiced.

I was comfortable with uncomfortable conversations, and over time Chris became very good at them too.

Looking back at the beginning - I reflected on the Brethren in Christ church in Frogmore, Ontario (now called The Mission) where great grandpa Alonzo Vannatter was a Minister. 

In 1969 the church was fundraising for a new church building. 

"Of the $24,000 needed to build, about $10,000 was raised by a walkathon. A student in Alonzo Vannatter's Sunday school class of young people made the suggestion for this fundraising method when the pastor asked the class if they wished to help in raising the money. 

The walkathon became a community event. It was publicized by radio, newspaper, and even television and participated in by people ranging from a seventy-six year old undertaker (a long-time friend of Alonzo Vannatter) to a reporter from the Tillsonburg newspaper. Vannatter himself took part, in spite of his sixty-eight years and a heart attack 3 years earlier. (He brought himself into shape for the event by walking each day along the road in front of his house.) He was among the 128 out of 207 walkers who finished the twenty-five-mile walk. Even his twenty-two-months-old great grandson, Chris Buchner, took part, sponsored at $145 a mile." 1  

According to the book Chris was sponsored at $145/mile. The newspaper clipping claims $120/mile. Regardless what is correct there is no doubt this event was part of forming Chris' believe in his personal value.

When you find the cause for future in searching the past!!! 

This is why I search - 

Cause ... 

You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***

Footnotes:

1  Sider, Morris. E & Vannatter, Alonzo. (1978). Fruit from Woods and Sands: The story of Houghton Mission. Evangel Press. Indiana. Page 83-84 

Sources:

Sider, Morris. E & Vannatter, Alonzo. (1978). Fruit from Woods and Sands: The story of Houghton Mission. Evangel Press. Indiana.

Houghton Brethren In Christ Community Church. Site: Frogmore - Norfolk County Rd 28. Service: The Mission. Retrieved December 30th 2024 from
https://info-bhn.cioc.ca/record/SIM0699

The Mission Church. Retrieved December 30th 2024 from
https://www.themissionchurch.ca/

Photos:

Personal

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/

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